Why did the system take my request to take photos with a cosplayer seriously?

"It's alright."

Chen Mo smiled and said, "I'm used to it."

"You're quite open-minded."

Liu Chiwang reassured him, "But then again, the competition at Fudan University is fierce. Don't push yourself too hard; you need to relax when necessary."

"I know."

"If all else fails, you can ask Lao Ding."

Liu Chiwang gestured towards Ding Heng with his chin: "He has many connections, maybe he can help you find a solution."

Chen Mo scratched his head, looking a little embarrassed: "I'm too embarrassed to keep bothering Lao Ding."

"There's nothing to be embarrassed about."

Liu Chiwang disagreed: "We're all brothers. If you're in trouble, just ask. Old Ding isn't the kind of person who's stingy."

"Cough cough..."

A hoarse cough came from the direction of the bed.

All three people turned their heads at the same time.

Qian Pu poked half his head out from under the covers, his hair a mess, his eyes half-open and half-closed, looking slumped over as if he hadn't woken up yet.

"Qian Pu, you're awake?"

Liu Chiwang raised his chin: "Did you stay up all night again yesterday?"

"Um……"

Qian Pu gave a muffled reply, slowly sat up from the bed, and rubbed his temples: "I lost all night playing ranked games, it's so annoying."

Liu Chiwang joked, "Aren't you afraid of dying suddenly from staying up all night every day?"

"Can't die."

Qian Pu yawned and turned to Ding Heng: "Hey... Old Ding, what brings you here?"

"Old Zhou is treating us to dinner today, so I'll pick you up on my way."

"Oh right?"

Qian Pu then suddenly remembered.

Every year, shortly after the start of the semester, it is their advisor Zhou Zheng's birthday, and the advisor will treat everyone to a meal, which can be considered a small gathering.

After three years together, our advisor, Zhou Zheng, has proven to be quite competent and easy to get along with.

Ding Heng, because he frequently took leave, had a fairly good relationship with Zhou Zheng, since he had to let people turn a blind eye to his behavior.

"Old Ding, wait a minute."

Liu Chiwang was the first to respond: "I'll wash off the sweat and change my clothes first."

Chen Mo closed the book and stood up to stretch his stiff neck.

Qian Pu was still lying in bed, not moving.

"Qian Pu, aren't you going?"

In the bathroom, Liu Chiwang shouted.

"go."

Qian Pu started putting on a T-shirt, his face lifeless, like a living dead person.

The group went downstairs and got into Ding Heng's car.

Liu Chiwang sat in the passenger seat, while Chen Mo and Qian Pu sat in the back.

The car drove out of the school gate and merged into the evening rush hour traffic.

Qian Pu leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on the view outside the window.

He recalled the beginning of his freshman year when four of them squeezed into room 412.

Back then, Ding Heng drove a dilapidated Chang'an car, nothing like his current high-profile lifestyle.

Qian Pu turned on his phone.

The screen shows the chat history with Ding Heng. The last message he sent, "Brother Ding, are you there?", has not been replied to.

He scrolled up and saw only his one-sided greetings.

Occasionally, Ding Heng would reply with a brief "hmm" or "okay," as short as an automatic reply.

When did it start to become like this?

Qian Pu couldn't figure it out...

The car stopped in front of the restaurant, an ordinary Hunan restaurant with affordable prices.

The group got out of the car and walked inside. The private room was on the second floor. When they pushed the door open, there were already quite a few people there.

There are two round tables that can seat about thirty people, all crammed together.

Liu Chiwang peeked inside: "Is Old Zhou here?"

"not yet."

Someone shouted, "They say there's a traffic jam on the road, so let us order first."

The group found seats one after another, and Ding Heng was pulled by Liu Chiwang to the main table, next to Zhou Zheng.

"Brother Ding, it's been a long time."

"Mr. Ding, where have you been making your fortune lately?"

Everyone chattered and joked, some teasing, some genuinely attentive.

Ding Heng responded to each question in a neutral and polite manner.

Qian Pu also wanted to sit down, but Liu Chiwang arranged for him to sit at another table under the pretext that there weren't enough seats, and he kept turning his head to look back.

He couldn't hear what they were saying, but he could see Ding Heng surrounded by several people taking turns toasting him.

Qian Pu suddenly felt a little uneasy...

"Qian Pu, what are you daydreaming about?"

Someone next to him gave him a push.

"nothing."

Qian Pu withdrew his gaze, picked up the wine glass in front of him, took a sip, and found it bitter.

Zhou Zheng arrived quickly; he was a man in his early forties, with a hairline that was much higher than when he was a freshman.

"Sorry, sorry, there was a traffic jam on the way."

He put his briefcase aside, picked up his wine glass, and said, "Come on, let me punish myself with a drink first."

"You're too kind, Teacher Zhou."

"Of course, of course."

Everyone raised their glasses, and the atmosphere instantly became lively.

Zhou Zheng is the kind of person who is very good at handling things.

Having served as a counselor for three years, I've gotten along well with most of the students in my class. I know when to be serious and when to be easygoing.

They also took care of the students, especially Ding Heng, turning a blind eye to his behavior quite often.

Liu Chiwang teased, "Old Ding, you'd better respect Teacher Zhou. He's given you a lot of leave slips these past two years, so you should remember his kindness."

"Go! Go! Go……"

Zhou Zheng shoved Liu Chiwang aside, his face full of smiles.

He was quite lucky this year; his class produced a student council president named Liu Chiwang, who will likely have a promising future in government.

Needless to say, Ding Heng... I can't see through him at all. A few days ago, the vice principal even went to talk to him and asked him to make things easier for Ding Heng in the future.

In short, these are all contacts that can be used in the future.

Zhou Zheng patted Ding Heng on the shoulder and said with emotion, "I really hate to part with you students this year. It will be so quiet here after you graduate."

"Teacher Zhou is still young."

"Young? I'm almost fifty."

Zhou Zheng waved his hand with a smile: "My hair is almost all gone."

Everyone laughed again.

The dinner lasted for nearly two hours, and many people came over to offer toasts, which Ding Heng accepted without hesitation.

Liu Chiwang stood by his side, helping him drink a few cups, until his face turned red and his neck became thick.

Qian Pu, however, seemed to be arguing with someone, and just kept eating in silence...

It was almost nine o'clock when the event ended. Ding Heng waited for Lin Man to pick him up at the restaurant entrance.

Qian Pu stood not far away, observing quietly. After hesitating for a long time, he finally gritted his teeth and walked up.

"Old Ding."

"Ok?"

Ding Heng turned his head: "What's up?"

"that……"

Qian Pu scratched his head: "Have you switched WeChat accounts recently? I sent you messages but you didn't reply."

Ding Heng smiled awkwardly: "I'm sorry, I had already handed over my WeChat account to my secretary to manage, so I haven't paid much attention to it."

He wasn't lying much; as Hengbai grew bigger and bigger, the harassment from all sides also increased.

Ding Heng simply handed over his original WeChat account to Lin Man and used a secondary account to contact his family and friends.

"Oh... okay"

Qian Pu was speechless for a moment, and the atmosphere became a little awkward.